Benfica Dominates Celtic in Europa League Clash
Player ratings reveal a difficult night for Celtic, with several players receiving low scores in their loss to Benfica.
Benfica secured a decisive 4-1 victory over Celtic in a Europa League fixture, with player ratings from the match highlighting a struggling performance from the Scottish club. The defeat saw several Celtic players receive scores below 4 out of 10, indicating a difficult night on the pitch.
In goal, Viljami Sinisalo was given a 3.5/10, with little chance on the opening penalty but noted as being exposed for the second goal and wrong-footed for the fourth. The defense also struggled, with Dane Murray receiving a 3.5/10 for conceding a penalty and being part of a backline that was "brutally exposed." Auston Trusty earned a 5/10, noted for being beaten for the third goal but steady on the ball. Kieran Tierney was the highest-rated defender at 6/10, testing the goalkeeper with a long-range effort and making key interventions.
The midfield also faced challenges. Captain Callum McGregor was rated 4.5/10, unable to control the tempo and part of a midfield deemed "worryingly lightweight." Mika Baur received a 4/10, with the report suggesting a need for more physicality in European competition. Oliver Sorensen was given a 3.5/10, appearing overawed in the first half and making minimal impact before being substituted. Sebastian Tounekti was particularly criticized with a 2.5/10 for defensive lapses and being "powderpuff going forward."
Upfront, Camilo Duran scored when playing through the middle, earning a 6.5/10 and proving more effective than Kasper Hogh. Duran also hit the post twice. Hogh himself received the lowest rating of the starting XI with a 2/10, for a missed close-range chance, poor link-up play, and being too cumbersome. The report questioned his reported £11 million transfer fee.
Manaager Martin O'Neill received a 4/10, described as "totally outclassed in the first half." While substitutions made a difference in the second half, the report noted that Benfica had eased off by then.
Benfica's lineup included Trubin, Bah, Araujo, Lenglet, Dahl, Palhinha, Aursnes, Lukebakio, Sudakov, Prestianni, and Duran. Substitutes included Echeverri, El Karouani, Pavlidis, Schjelderup, and Circati. Dahl, Bah, and Palhinha received bookings. The referee, Nikola Dabanovic, was rated 7/10.
Substitutions for Celtic included Haissem Hassan and Callum Osmand coming on at halftime for Hogh and Tounekti respectively. Benjamin Nygren replaced Sorensen in the 57th minute, followed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Lotomba coming on for Baur and Donovan later in the second half.